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COJO: Making a difference

Published:Sunday | June 2, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna (second right) speaks with Dwayne Haynes (second left) during a scholarship awards function hosted by Children of Jamaica Outreach Inc (COJO) at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston on May 22. Dwayne is one of three former wards of the State awarded scholarships by COJO this year. Shallene Oliver (left) and Orlando Powell (right) are the other awardees. Also pictured is chairman and founder of COJO, Gary Williams.-JIS Photos
The children were not the only ones awarded. Founder and chairman of COJO Gary Williams (right) presents an award to J. Wray & Nephew's Greta Bogues for all the support the company has given the organisation over the years. Looking on is Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna.
Head boy of St Jago High School and COJO scholarship recipient, Dwayne Haynes, gets a huge hug from Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna.-Colin Hamilton/Photographer
It's a bellyful of laughs for COJO executive committee members (from left) Dennis Sherwood, Victoria Mitchell and Philip Prendergast.
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IT WAS the day before Labour Day, but for the committee members and supporters of Children of Jamaica Outreach (COJO), the work was already done. Members of the New York-based organisation were in the island to distribute the fruits of their labour - proceeds from its annual major fund-raising gala held last December in New York.

On May 21, COJO made a presentation of computers, appliances and sneakers to the New Vision Children's Home in Christiana, Manchester. On May 23, it was over to Garland Children's Home in Montego Bay, St James, and the next day, to the Maxfield Park Children's home.

But at its luncheon on Wednesday, all attention was on three very special individuals - Dwayne Haynes, Shallene Oliver and Orlando Powell - all former wards of the State.

Haynes is head boy at St Jago High School, who has plans to attend the University of the West Indies to study law. Oliver is a second-year nursing student at International University of the Caribbean, and Powell is a social work major at Northern Caribbean University.

CEO of the Child Development Agency, Carla Francis-Edie, praised the organisation for its philanthropy efforts and positive contribution to the country. She noted that the achievements of the scholarship recipients show that the sky is the limit for them and the nation should give them wings to fly.

"We treasure you and your team. You have a heart for Jamaica and Jamaican children," she told Gary Williams, COJO founder and chairman.

Founded 19 years ago, the organisation is made up of Jamaicans and friends of Jamaica in the United States who support the various fund-raising events of the charity, all geared at assisting children in Jamaica and the United States.

And throughout the afternoon's short programme, Williams was mindful to thank the many persons and corporate entities which have worked tirelessly with the organisation over the years. Two who received special mention and awards at the luncheon were former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and J. Wray & Nephew, who have provided invaluable support to the organisation for more than a decade. They helped the organisation in 'Making a difference ... reaching across the miles, touching lives'.